What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).

Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Melrose
People
Population	9,207Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA
	Douglas and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA
	Douglas and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA	$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA
	Melrose and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA	$7,578Highest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Melrose and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#177 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Melrose
High school in town	Douglas High School	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.